J.P. Taravella Boys and Coral Springs Charter Girls Dominate at Northwest Area Cross-Country Championships

  Photos by David Volz

The J.P. Taravella High School boys’ cross-country team clinched the top spot at the Northwest Area Cross-Country Championships at Tradewinds Park on September 24, while the Coral Springs Charter School girls’ team also emerged victorious, securing the first place.

The Taravella team captain, Dominic Martinez, was pleased with the team’s win. “We all ran well today, and we had a good pace. It takes much work to do well in cross-country,” he said.

Taravella coach Dawn Spann was impressed with the team’s performance. “We had trained hard the day before the meet, and the boys ran well. We are preparing to qualify for the state meet,” she said.

Leading Taravella boys’ runners included Akeem Beckford, fourth place; Scardy Fils, fifth place; Elijah Vessells, sixth place; and Martinez, ninth place.

The Coral Springs High School boys’ team finished a close second, with Jeffrey Belizaire winning first place overall and Matt Wykpisz earning second place.

“I ran well today, and I pushed myself. It takes dedication and consistency to be a good runner,” Belizaire said.

Wykpisz was pleased. “Our team ran well today, and I felt good. It takes mental strength to be a good runner, and being on the cross-country team has prepared me for anything life will throw at me,” he said.

Coral Springs coach David Pierre-Louis said, “We did well, and we have a very dedicated group of runners,” he said.

The Coral Springs Charter Girls’ team won first place, and Kendall Parrott, an eighth grader, earned first place overall. Her teammate Lily Richardson earned second place and Alyson Thomas fourth place.

Charter’s coach, Brantley Barr, was pleased with the win. “This was the first time the Charter girls’ team won this meet, and I am very happy with their performance,” he said.

The Marjory Stoneman Girls’ team earned second place, and coach Michael Mauro was pleased.  “Our boys’ and girls’ teams ran well today. They have been training since June to prepare for the season, and they are preparing for the district meet,” said Mauro.

The boys’ team standings:

1. J.P. Taravella
2. Coral Springs
3. Coral Springs Charter
4. Marjory Stoneman Douglas
5. North Broward Preparatory
6. Coconut Creek
7. Coral Glades

The girls’ team standings:

1. Coral Springs Charter
2. Marjory Stoneman Douglas
3. Coral Springs
4. J.P. Taravella
5. North Broward Preparatory
6. Coral Glades

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.

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